Letter: Choosing Values Over Party in Local Leadership

I was born a Democrat—quite literally. My parents were deeply involved in politics and the civil rights movement. They marched with Dr. King, protested the war in Washington, and instilled in me a fierce love for democracy. I grew up volunteering at campaign headquarters—stuffing envelopes, handing out flyers (Alison, I know you remember!), and holding “Vote Today” signs on the corner of Rimmon and Ansonia Roads. Democracy felt like a member of our family—something we protected and nurtured together.

As soon as I was old enough, I voted faithfully along party lines. I believed that protecting democracy meant voting Democrat. I proudly supported Gore, Obama, Biden. But as I got older, my understanding of what mattered to me evolved: honesty, kindness, environmental stewardship, caring for our neighbors, and rolling up my sleeves to serve the local community.

I started listening more deeply to voices outside my party. I admired Bernie Sanders for his compassion, his energy, and his service. But when I expressed interest in voting for him, I was warned, “A vote for Bernie is a vote for the other side. Do you really want a Republican to win?” So I stayed in line. And I left the polls feeling disappointed—not in him, but in the pressure to choose party over principle.

Then, during COVID, I took a job as the Sustainability Manager for a small shoreline town. The town’s leader was smart, caring, deeply invested in residents’ concerns, and committed to the environment. He was a fantastic partner in protecting open space and addressing climate change. I was surprised—he was a Republican. How could that be? We agreed on so much. I respected him, I enjoyed working with him, and I trusted his leadership.

That experience changed me. I realized that people are people—and that national politics don’t define who someone is in our local community. Local leadership isn’t about party loyalty. It’s about shared values, trust, and action.

When I moved back home, I jumped in to serve. I became a member of the Woodbridge Democratic Town Committee, co-chair of the Conservation Commission, a member of the Sustainability Committee, a local small business owner, and a volunteer—whether at school, on Earth Day, or riding the Bici Bus with our kids each day.

On the Conservation Commission, I serve alongside brilliant, dedicated people like Sharon De Katd, Barbara Hagan-Smith, Ben Carlson, Val King, and Rachel Guerra. We come from different political backgrounds—but we come together as neighbors. We listen. We collaborate. We make decisions based on what’s best for Woodbridge.

I’m not here to tell you how to vote—and I never would. That’s personal, and it deserves respect. But I can tell you who I’m supporting: Rob Rosasco and the Common Ground team.

Common Ground, to me, represents exactly that—common ground. They are caring neighbors first, and a mix of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents second. These are people I trust, who show up, listen, and lead with heart.

I am deeply grateful to those who’ve served before—Beth, Ellen, Nan, Ed, and of course, Rosa DeLauro, who will always have a special place in my heart. They paved the way for what we can do now.

But in this moment, for our schools, our neighbors, our services, our small businesses, our open spaces, and our shared future—I believe in Rob.

Diana McCarthy-Bercury